"Due to the sanctions imposed by the union government, the state government has been forced to levy the property tax in the urban areas of the state," he said.

"The union government has imposed riders, including that of property tax, on the state government for seeking grants for urban development due to which we have been forced to implement this tax in the state," he told media on the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme in Moga district, 170 km from here.

He said that not only Punjab but the tax has been implemented in the entire country on the directions of the union government.

Taking strong exception to the hue and cry made by the Congress leaders on this issue, Badal said that "rather than politicizing this issue, the state Congress leaders must appeal their high command to refrain from thrusting these anti-people policies on the states".

"We are left with no other alternative but to succumb to the pressure of centre to resort to these taxes unwillingly," he said.

The state government had recently announced the imposition of property tax in urban centres across Punjab from the current financial year (2013-14).